Hi everyone who stopped by to read and share. Thanks for all your beautiful thoughts.

I hope to respond to each of them later in the week. I started a new job and my Fodor's time is diminishing!

I did want to post my last bit on this.

gruezi

<b>Final Thoughts</b>

In the past weeks, working on this written record, and supporting my daughter as she writes her own essay on the journey, we both continue to process this experience.

For me, it was a time to combine my love of travel with an historical theme and to really broaden my very limited knowledge. I am more aware of the dynamics of recent European history and the beginnings of the Cold War. With the recent actions taken by Russia, it’s helpful to have a better understanding of this history. Beyond the educational aspect, it was a special time my daughters and I shared together. We had some fun times, some sad times, and lots of time for reflection.

My older daughter is just now completing all those college applications and as a result of this trip she has decided to study not only History but also Peace and Justice. She struggled with the hopelessness of so much war – particularly rough was the day we spent at the Caen Peace Museum - and has been inspired to work for peace. For her, the German Resistance Museum in Berlin was the most compelling thing we saw, especially the story of the White Rose Resistance and the Scholl siblings.

Somewhere here, I think I mentioned that she re-read “The Diary of Anne Frank” after we returned home from Germany. She said she found it very soothing, and still is inspired by Anne’s faith that there is a lot of good in the world.

If you’re still here, thanks for hanging in there and sharing our travels with us.

gruezi

Gruezi, thanks for taking time to tell of us of your awesome travels.

Your Dachau visit was sensitively done. What sticks in my mind of the day I visited Dachau is the silence. It was summer and there were many visitors that day, but I did not hear one voice raised to a speaking tone. An occasional whisper and the soft sounds of footsteps. I think we were all overwhelmed at what we were seeing.

gruezi,

I am glad you finished this great report. And it is inspiring that your daughter came away from and wants to study Peace and Justice.

I remember when I visited Dachau, when I entered the room with the ovens I was so overwhelmed by emotion. I actualy broke down and started to cry.

As for the Bic Macs being smaller in Europe, I don't know, they seem to be shrinking in size her in Seattle.

Tom

Hi Irish - Yes, it was a solemn place. Like a funeral but even worse.


Tom - It was the painting in the orthodox church with the gates of Dachau being opened by Christ that really got me crying. I don't know why, as I'm not religious (although I was raised as a Catholic and do appreciate the Christ figure in that sense). It was just such a beautiful, hopeful painting I guess. Plus, I think the connection the artist made between the Dachau gates and the gates of Heaven was really touching.

Thanks for sharing.

gruezi

mms and lucy,

You are both so nice to stick with this long, long story. Sounds like we could all have a great talk over our travels!

maryanne,

Thanks for sharing your travels and for your very kind words. Now you have 2 more places you must see - Normandy and Berlin. Very different but both amazing.

Hi stu,

Thanks for all the great info on SL. I feel like you were on our trip this summer. Thanks for reading and for all your great input.

Jean,

Thank you for your heartfelt post. In the Imperial war museum we learned a lot about &quot;the children's war.&quot; What really struck me was that there were children who were not recognized by their parents when they returned as they were so grown up. We really had a hard time grasping the thought of this kind of separation. How hard for both you, the child, as well as your parents. Yet necessary too! I am sorry for the loss of your father in such a tragic way and at such a young age for both of you. I will share your post with my girls. Thank you.

gruezi

Just wanted to thank you for this well written and fascinating post. I am glad came across it once it was finished :-) so I didn't have to wait each next installment!

I have two young boys, so in addition to the fascinating historical and travel perspective, I was grateful for the chance to spend some time experiencing life as the mother of teenage girls.

This trip is everything that I believe travel should be.

congratulations

Canada,

What a very nice post from you!

Thank you for your very sweet thoughts and for reading all this.

My teenaged girls love little boys (the wilder the better) since they don't have a brother...I have 5 brothers so I feel very blessed to have these 2 very girly girls. We are very close and I have to say I'm probably odd but I actually am enjoying the teenager years.

My older daughter texted me from a class trip to Paris today and said, &quot;Mom, I'm only ever going to Paris again with you - it's not the same otherwise.&quot; Boy, that sure made my day! I better save that text;)

BTW, lots of boys love the trip to Normandy and the Imperial War Museum in London. Perhaps when yours are around 10 or so would be a good time to go. I found that a great age for family travels.

Thanks again!

gruezi

We are going to France in June (hopefully - the trip has previously been postponed so my fingers are crossed). We have Vimy Ridge in as a for certain (I have a secret daydream of my boys growing up to be guides at Vimy :-), and are determining on the feasiblity of Normandy. We visited the War Museum in Ottawa this past summer, which was excellent and they enjoyed, but I am trying to reconcile the &quot;tanks and guns are cool&quot; perspective of a 7 and 10 year old boy with &quot;people do terrible things to other people in wars&quot; message (over simplification duly noted).

I remember visiting Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam when I was about 10, and not really understanding what I was experiencing, but found that having the physical memory of the place as I matured.

We are considering visiting Oradour-sur-Glane when we are in France (The village was destroyed by the SS - everyone men,women,children - and has been left untouched as a memorial) I am torn between whether it would be too much for them, or too over their heads (though maybe forming that same physical memory I have of Anne Frank's house)

And I had originally negotiated with my kids and they agreed that they would never be teenagers ;-), but after your experience, maybe I will just embrace my fate...

Topping for flygirl...

Canada, just noticed your post... hope you are continuing your plans for travel with your boys. Keep us posted.

gruezi

Hi Gruezi,
What a fabulous trip report! I've been spending more &quot;computer time&quot; on the lounge, because of the election and I was giving my son a wedding, but the travel forum is my true love. I enjoyed reading every word of it. You gave me some wonderful travel suggestions, because although I wouldn't identify myself as a history buff, I guess I am. I have taken my (adult) kids to Europe because thats where my parents were from, and they both were concentration camp survivors, and I wanted my kids and myself to know where our roots are. Not just the horrific WWII stuff, but the happier family life before.
We had an interesting encounter this summer in Krakow. We were there with my sister so she could see Auschwitz, my dads so to speak (alma mater). We were having dinner in the Jewish quarter which is where Schindler's factory is located, and by the way, being replaced by a nightclub???, I think! There were about 30 high school students in our dining room, and a few were dancing to the Klezmer music we had come to hear.
Now, you just don't slow dance to Klezmer, you do the Hora. Group dancing in a circle. My table decided we needed to teach these kids how to dance, and long story short, we spent an incredible evening with these kids and their teachers. None are Jewish. They are seniors at a public school in England, and their history teacher has taken his classes on a Jewish history tour of Europe for the last 10 years. They start in Spain (the Inquisition) and end at Auschwitz, which pretty much finished off Jewish life (as it was) in Europe. They stop in Germany, an Austria, France &amp; Italy. Given that most kids don't have you as a parent this is the opportunity of a lifetime. It was truly an example of why we love to travel. The people you meet!

Dear zwho,

Thanks for reading my report and for leaving such a nice note.

I love your story about dancing the Hora in Krakow. We've not been there, but I do hope to get there before we leave Europe.

How amazing that both your parents survived concentration camps.

I hope your son's wedding was wonderful, and I wish many happy travels to you and your family!

gruezi

I am thinking about planning a "WWII trip" and came upon this wonderful report. Just what I was looking for.

Thank you, gruezi, for taking the time to write about your trip. I'd like to just following in your footsteps!

Excellent!

Am so glad this came up again. We didn't get out of Paris so missed MSM (pls. see my Provence sandwich TR if you wish). Here's hoping for another opportunity.

I do know what you mean about not appreciating history in school and how traveling makes vivid what was so dry in school. My DH loves history and remembers everything (in addition to ball players and coaches over the years) so going to Italy and France with him was great. "Who was caesar here? Who was the dictator here?" were answered on the spot.

Here's to many more trips and much success to your DD.

Celianne,

So glad you found the report helpful. Please let me know if I can help in any way and do let us know what you decide to do. I also posted a thread on Fodor's on books, movies to read/watch before this trip. I got so many wonderful suggestions and we did watch a lot of movies....


Dear TDudette,

So nice to hear from you. We still talk about the trip and my daughter is now at college in the US studying Political Science and Peace and Justice Studies. In Jan. she spent 10 days in Lebanon as she has a particular interest in the Middle East. It was a tough trip for a young American girl, but she is really learning about what it means to be an American in the world today. Her plan at this point is to take the Foreign Service exam before graduation and see if she can do some sort of diplomacy work.

She and I will meet in Istanbul for spring break to continue our travels together.

gruezi

gruezi, Thank you. I just ordered Sopie's Choice and the Battle of Britain!

Celiaanne,

If you plan to visit Normandy than I highly recommend Band of Brothers as well...

gruezi

Hi Gruezi,

I know your trip was a long time ago, but if you want a couple of stories about the children's experience in the UK, both my parents lived through the war.

Dad: he was evacuated from London to Wales for a couple of years. His main memory was of having to learn to run very fast as the local children resented the evacuees and would chase them home from school. If you got caught, you got a thorough beating! It's not a happy memory for him overall and he doesn't really like to talk about it. One the positive side it triggered a love of the countryside that has stayed with him.

Mum: she stayed in London with her parents and two sisters. Her father (too old to serve) told them that if the Germans landed, he would kill them all with the kitchen knife so the Germans wouldn't get their hands on them. And she thinks he was serious too. They sheltered down the tube during the blitz and it has left her terribly claustrophobic. She will not go in lifts (elevators), into basements/tunnels of any kind, or on airplanes. Anywhere she feels confined is out - especially if underground/dark - and she has panic attacks if it can't be avoided.

The context of your DD's experiences will certainly be in her favor in the foreign service. Can't wait to hear about Istanbul.

Hi Nona - I often wondered if I could have let my children go and stayed behind. I'm sure I would have, but how sad to miss their childhood. When we visited the Imperial War Museum there was a whole section on the children. Many were unrecognizable by their families on their return. Thanks for sharing your parents' stories.

Dear TD - I think her living in Switzerland and doing so much travel during that time, plus her international school experience, really shaped her career interests. She has always loved history, but felt it wasn't exactly what she wanted to major in as she didn't want to teach. It is so nice to see her finding her way and formulating some goals for her future. Also, she was quite lucky to go to a school that offers a lot of opportunities in that area. I'm looking forward to our time in Istanbul not only because she's a great travel companion, but also because I love hearing all her experiences with her studies and various organizations (Amnesty Intl. is one)...

gruezi